Means for holding and registering printing-plates.



UNITED STATES PATENT oEEroE.

ROBERT MIEH LE, OF

enrcAeo, iLLrNois.

MEPNS FOR HCLDINGAND REGISTERING PRINTING-PLATES.

)Specification of `Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 11, 1906.

Application filled October 29,1903. Renewed November 15,1905. Serial No. 287.481.

ing plates 1n such manner that the plates -may be adjusted 'or registered. on the base with great nicety, and it h.t.s more espec il reference to that class in which the base is provided with a plurality or" groovesor channels in its sufrac'e for retaining the plate-adjusting hooks or clamps. These grooves or channels are necessarily narrow and are only deep enough to accommodate the mechanism ofthe plate-adjusting devices, and for obvious reasons the entire clamp, with the exception of the hook proper, which engages the' edge of the plate, must be of a size lying wholly Within the groove, {lusliwith or below the surfaee'of the base, and consequently must be 'comparatively small, while at the same time is required to be of great strength.

This inventiornlias for itsVprimr-.ry object to provide a plate holding and registering .lneans possessing all or a substantial part of these qualifications and one in which the hook or clamp will be capable of rapid movement along the grooves to produce the approximate adjustment quickly, and slow and powerful movement throughout a long range toward and against the plate to eliect the nice adjustment for registering the plate in printing 4colors or otherwise and the requisite clam ing action against the plate.

A irther object of the invention is to provide an improved'and simple means for l1olding and registering printing-plates in which the plate-holding hook shall have rigid connection with the base and at the sume time be capable of. being readily detaehedtherefrom and adjusted relatively thereto.

' A still further object of the invention is to provide the. clamp with traction means and the groove in the base at any desired point throughout its length with means for the engagement of said tractionnn-ans, but which should be separate therefrom, so that the clamp may be moved at will indcpemlently l 0f Sa'ld latter means.

With these ends in view the invention consists in certain features of novelty in the construction, combination, and arrangement of partsy by which the said objects and, certain other objects, hereinafter appearing, are attained, all as fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the claimsn ln the said drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a grooved base, showing two rintingplates secured thereto by the aid o this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally of one of the grooves on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the irregular line 3 3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical detail section taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail cross-section ofthe clamp. Fig. 6 is a vertical section online 6 6, Fig. l. Fig. 7 is a detail side view of one of the keys for holding the rack shownin Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a detail of' a key.

1 is thelbase,`which is provided in its face with a plurality of grooves or channels 2, as usual. These grooves are formed diagonally, as shown in Fig. l, to avoid the necessity of forming other grooves at right angles thereto,

as well understood, and each is rovided, preferably, along both sides Witi salient edges or inwardlyprojecting flanges 3, which are formed by longitudinally grooving or re- 'cessing the opposite walls, as shown at 4,

thus leaving the groove narrow at the bottom and top with an intermediate wider portion. In all or" these grooves may be litted one of the clamps or hooks by which the printing-plate shown at 5 is held and ad-y justed.

The hook 6 is formed on or otherwise rigidly secured to a body portion 7 of the clamp proper, which is provided lwith shoulders 8, one on each side, cesses 4 in the side walls of the groove 2 and engaging under the flanges 3, formed by said recesses, the clamp being inserted endwise at either extremity of the groove 2 and is adapted to be slid longitudinally of such groove to any point in the length thereof where it can be most advantageously used for adjusting and clamping tic printingplate, the flanges 3 serving to hold the clamp down lrmly within the groove 2 while the hook portion 6 of the clamp preferably bridges th(` groove 2 j g and rests against the surface oi' thc base l.

The body portion 7 fitting in the` grooves or rei IDO of the clamp is bifureated at one end, as shown at 9, and in this bifurcation is journaled on a suitable bearing-pin 1.0 a toothed wheel 11, which is preferably in the forni of a worm-wheel and with which engages an u right worm or screw 12, also journalcd in t ie body portieri 7 of the clamp in a suitable socket 13 and held against withdrawal therefrom by any appropriate means, such as a key or pin 14, passing through the body of the clamp and engaging in a peripheral groove 15 near the upper end of the screw, the upper end of the screw having a screwdriver slot 16 or other suitable means to facilitate the turning thereof for the purpose of rotating the gear-wheel 11. The threads of the worm or screw 12 are preferably righthand, so that the rotation of the screw to the right will cause the wheel 1 1 to rotate toward the direction in which the hook 6 faces, so that this direction of rotation of the gear 11 will cause the longitudinal strain or pressure on the screw '12 to take place in a downward direction and not upwardly against the pin or key 14, which might be too frail te withstand it. This downward pressure, however, is easily resisted by stepping the screw upon two flanges or shoulders 17 18, left at the bottom of the socket 13 on either side of the bifurcation 9. These flanges 17 18 might be in the form of an integral bottom to the socket 13, the slot 9 between them being merely incidental to the sweep of the millingtool, which produces the bifurcation for the accommodation of the wheel 11.

The wheel 11 rejects slightly below the bottom of the c amp-body 7 and engages with the upper side of a rack-bar 19, which is placed in the bottom of the groove 2 and is ield central therein by the narrow portion of said groove, as shown more clearly in F ig. 3, and itis held against longitudinal movement in the groove in any suitable way, but preferably by a means which will not entail the weakening of the base 1 nor interfere with the printing-plates 5 being placed above it whenever desired. An efficient means for a -`omplishing this consists of a key 29, which is adapted to be dropped `down into any one of a number of cross-cuts 21, formed at suitable intervals across the grooves or channels 2. These cross-cuts 21 may be best formed by means of a milling-maehiin, and consequently are semicircular, and the upper portions of the key 20 are preferably made .to conform thereto, as shown in F ig. 4, with a narrowY portion 22 at the lower end of each, adapted to be engaged in a slotted head or lug 23, formed on or secured to one end of the rack 19, the portion 22 being extended4 downwardly in this manner for the sake of bringing the strain on the head, 23 sufficiently near the rack 19 to avoid bending the head at its point of conjunction with the rack. The keys 20 may be formed with side portions 24, produced by upsettingthe metal to facilitate their insertion and removal. One of these racks 19 is preferably employed for each of the clamps to be used, so that the clamp, together with its rack, may be quickly slid along the groove when the key 20 is removed to effect the approximate adjustment of the clamp or, in other words, to bring the clamp against or in close relation to the edge of the printing-plate, the key 20 being then dropped into that one of the cross-cuts 21 which. is most accessible to the slotted lug 23, and the, balance of the movement or adjustment of the clamp being then produced by rotating the screw 12,and thereby causing the clamp to travel in the proper direction along therack 19, which forms a very effective means for the engagement of the wormwheel 11, which constitutes at once a traction means and a self-locking means for holding the clamp against retrograde movement excepting when the screw or worm 12 is rotated, it being obvious that so long as the wheel 11 is in engagement with both the screw and vthe rack it will be efi'ectually locked against rotation and will hold the clamp up to its work against the edge of the piinti1ig-plate;but when the key 20 is removed the` entire clamp and its rack may be slid rapidly along the groove in the base to any desired point. In thus sliding the rack, together with the clamp, the clamp or hook portion 6 thereon may not always come into operative adjustment with the edge of the late when the slotted head 23 is in register with the nearest one of the cross-cuts 21, but the vrack 19 is made suflcicntly longer than the clamp to provide for the balance of the adjustment h v the aid of the screw 12. lt is also quite obvious that the keys 2() and the slotted heads 23, as well as all of that portion of the clamp excepting the hook 6, being below or [lush with the surface of the hase, they may be projected in either direction indiscriminately under either one of the plates,

the clamp and the rack of one of tlle eeviees being shown under one of the plates in Fig. 1

The rack 19 .is made half-round or semicylindrical. This shape, however, besides being incidental to the method of making it#- namely, producing a complete screw and then cutting Ait inl two longitudinallyI or by securing two rods together and then threading them---is desirable, in that the threads or teeth, being formed on an incline or .spiral like those of a screw, better match with the teeth of the worm-wheel 1 1.

In some instances it is not necessary or dcsirable that the registering hooks 6 hc cmployed on all sides of the printing-plate-as, for example, theposition of one or'lnore edges 4or sides of the printing-plate may be readily determined and then secured by some suitable rigid holding devices capable of sustaining the plate while the registering hooks 2o gaging in the side grooves or recesses 4 of any It is quite obvious that w 3o 'flat on top vandinas its teeth 19b extending angles to each other, er the b i 4o the manner shown in Fig. 6, for holding the lino' saidrclamp b 'i A 'of the center of'keyseat-2l so that by taking able with the clamp.

.5o seats 21 from which it was taken the hook 6a provided with a i 5 5 sliding 'it under the key until the key engaged propelling the el 838,039 I?, or clamps on the remaining sides or edges of quently should the iirst key be removed and the plate are adjusted or forced into position replaced with this onel the adjustment would thereagdinst. I have shown' the lel`t-hand be equal to only half the diil'erence between side ofthe left-handplate in Fig. held bya the thickness oli the body and the i lange .f 5 means of this character, which illustrated j 2U", or half the adjustment which is ell'eeted 7o more in detail in Figs. 6 and 7of the drawings by turning the key end for end, as iirst deand which is. ada )ted to be'rigidl f secured to scribed. the base and rea ly detached therefrom with 'lhe hooks 6 being adjustable over a concapability oa considerable range of adjustsiderablerrange oi" movement without neceso ment with relation to the plate. This `de sarily moving the racks Il), it will be seen that vice, two of which are shown as applied to the securing means for the rack-that is to the/leit-hand edge of the left-hand plate in say, thel key and slotted head or lug-may be Fig. 1, consists of a hook proper, 6, which locked entirely under the plate against whiclr may be like the hook 6 in form and adapted the hook impinges or under the adjacent 15 to hengage the beveled edge of' theplate insubplate, Awhich could not be donc'ii" the ecn- 8o stantially the same way, and this hook 6LL is 4struction was such that the hooks 6 could formed on or secured to a sliding body por-v notbe backed oill from the plate alsuilieient Ition or shank 7a, which is formed with shouldistance to permit the plate to be lifted oill ders@a on both sidesrlike the shoulders 8 enthe base. 5 hile this invenone oi the grooves 2, so as vto becapable of tion has been shown in connection with an, sliding freely along the grooves to engage or integral base it might nevertheless be eindisengage the plate, While held rigidly against ployed in ednnection with the sections` of sec' lulpward movement, by the conjoint action of tional bases, such sections having grooves or t e flanges 3 and the shoulders 8a, and to this recesses for receiving the raelebars and bod-y V9o body. ortion orshank 7.ais secured orormed a portions of the hooks, as will be understood rack-.har 19a, which lies dat inthe bottom of by those familiar with the art. It is also obthe groove 2, like the rack-bar 19, but which vious that, if desired,the grooves in the base .preferably differs from the latter in that it is may be formed in both directions or at right,

ase may have thereacross at right angles tothe groove2 inerooves formed in both directions across its stead of inclined or spiral teeth like the rack .1 9, ace. l

so as to be capable of engaging with and being Having thus described my invention, what rigidly held by'a-key comprising a body por- I claim as new. therein, and desire to secure 3 5 `tion 20*1 and an en aging member or i'ilange by Letters Patent,is-

20h, formed longitu inally ofthe edge of such 1. In a device forthe pur ose described,

body portion, which is adapted tobe dropped lthe combination of a grooved9 base, a clamp into any one of the cro`ss-cuts or key-seats 21, itted to slide in the groove the h lreol, a rack below or hush with the surface of the base, in lock'ed in said groove and means for 'propely enfragement with said rack 19*l `and its hook 6EL against longitudinal rac r, movable with the cgiamp. movement.- Y v 2'. In a device for the purpose described, As illustrated in Fig. 6, the flange 2Gb, the combination of a grooved base, a clamp although 'equal in width to the space be- :litted to slide in the groove thereof, a rack in 45 tween the teeth 19h, is formed at one side of said groove and means for vpropelling" the 1ro the body portion 2O@L of the key or to one side clamp by engagement with said iiack, mov- ICC the Vkey out and turning it end for end and 3. In a device i'or the purpose described, then replacing itin the same one ofthe key- Ythe combinationoll a base having a groove salient edge, a clamp slid; with its rack 19":L may be moved or adjusted a able in said groove and shou dered under said istance equal to the difference between the edge, -a rack arranged in the bottom of said thickness ofthe flange 201? and the body porgroove and means projecting downwardly tion 20, Whereas to adjust the rack 19 bv. from said clamp for engaging the rack and` amp therealong. 12o 1n the next space in the rack would necessi- 4. lsu lak device for theijiurpbse described, tate an adjustment equal to the width of the the eonibniation of a base having a groove in tooth andthe space between the teeth,whieh the face thereof, a portable rack arranged in mighvt'be too much for the purpose. In, order said groove, meansof detachably connecting 6o that the adjustment may be made still iliner, the rack to the base, a clamp slidable in said 12 5 additional keys may be provided with their` l groove and means; movable with'the clamp engaging-flanges or members differently' situlor propelling the clamp along said rack bv ated. Anexample of one of such is shown in eng-agement with the rack i Fig. 8, in which the flange 2Oc is located in 5., In a device for the 5 5 the center of the edge of the key, and consethe combinatie j purpose described, n ol' a base having a groove inI 13o the face thereof, a portable rack arranged in said groove, means arranged llush wither below the surface of said base for attaching the rack to the base, a clamp slidable in said groove and means engaging with the rack for propelling the clalnp thcrcalong, movable with the clamp.

Vln a device. for the purpose described, the combination of a base having a groove in the face thereof, a portable rack arranged in said groove and having an attaching-lug at one end thereof, means in connection with said. base for engaging and holding said lug, a clamp arranged in said groove, and means engaging said rack for propelling' the clamp therealong, movable with the clamp.

7. In a device for the purpose described, the combination of a base having a groove in the face thereof, a portable rack arranged in said groove having a holding-lug, a removable key engaging in the base and also with said lug for holding said rack against longitudinal movement, a clamp arranged in saidgroovc and means engagingl said rack for propelling the clamp tllerealong, movable with the clamp.

ts. in a device for the purpose described, the combination of a base having a groove in the surface thereof, a portable rack having a slotted lug arranged in said groove, a removf able key having connection with the. base and adapted to seat in the slot of said lug for holding the Irack against longitudinal movenient, a clamp arranged in said groove and means engaging with said rack for propelling the clamp therealeng, movable with the clamp.

9. .ln a device for the purpose described, the combination of a base having a groove in the surface thereof, and one or more crosscuts bisecting said groinv portable rack arrangedin said groove and having a holdinglug, a ke)v adapted to be seated in any one of said cross-cuts and to engage with said lug for holding said rack against longitudinal movement, a clamp arranged in said groove and means engaging said rack for propelling said clamp therealoug.

10. ln a device 'for the purpose described, the combination of a grooved base having cross-cuts bisecting said groove, a portable rack arranged in said groove, a kev seated in said cross-cut flush with the surface of said base, and engaging said rack for holding it against longitudinal movement, and having lifting means whereby it ma)r be raised out of said crpss-cut, a clamp arranged in said groove and means engaging said rack for propelling said clamp therealong.

11. ln a device for the purpose described, the combination of a grooved base, a clamp slidable in said groove, a rack fixed in the groove between one sideA thereof and the clamp, a self-locking propelling means arranged on the clamp and engaging said rack for propelling the clamp along the rack.

12. n a device for the purpose described, the combination oi2 a grooved base, a clamp slidable in said groove, a rack fixed in the groove between one side thereof and the clamp, and a wormvheel-propelling means arranged on the clamp and engaging the rack for propelling the clamp along the rack.

13. In a device for the purpose described, the combination of a grooved base, a rack ixed in said groove, a clamp slidable in said groove, a worin-wheel journaled in said clamp and engagingsaid rack and a screw or worm journaled in said clamp and engaging said wheel.

14. .ln a device for the purpose described, the combinatiim of a groovcd base, a semicyl ind rical screw constituting a rack arranged in the said groove, a clamp slidable -in the groove over said rack," and a second screw iournalcd on said clamp and having operative connection with said lirst screw for propelling the. clamp therealong.

1,5. ln a device for the purpose described, the combination of a grooved base, a sernicylindrical screw fixed in the 'groove thereof, and constituting a rack, a clamp slidable in said groove, a wormavlwel journaled in said clamp and engaging said rack and a second screw or worm iournaled in said clamp and engaging said worm-wheel.

16. ln a device lfor the purpose described, the combination of a grooved base, a rack in the groove thereof, a clamp slidable in the groove. thereof, and having a perpemlicular socket projecting through the upper side thereof, a screw stepped in and resting upon the bottom ot said socket, means for holding said screw againsty outward movement and means for imparting the movement of said screw to said rack for propelling the clamp along the rack.

17. ln a device Afor the purpose described, the combina-tion o'lE a base having a series of sockets, a rack situated in said base below the surface thereof, removable means adapted to be inserted in any one of said sockets and engaging with said rack for holding the latter against longitudinal movement, and means in connection with said 'rack for engaging and holding the printing-plate.

1S. ln a device for the purpose described, the. combination of a base having a seat for hoiding a-ke v, a rack situated in said base below the surface thereof, a removable transposable key arranged in said seat and having an engaging member for engaging and holding said rack against longitudinalv movement, said engaging member being narrower than said seat, and means in` connection with said rack for engaging and holding the printingplate.

. 19, In a device for the purpose described,

Lri

4of said base, an

the combination of a base having a groove and a cross-cut leading from said groove, a rack 4adapted to slide 1n said groove, a key adapted to drop into said cross-cut and engage with said rack, and-means in connection with therack for engaging and holding the printin -plate.` f i 20. n a device for the purpose described, the combination of a grooved base, a rack slidable longitudinally of said groove, a transposable key movably secured in the hase and engaging said rack whereby one position ol" the key Will hold the rack' at different adjust'- ments, and means in connection with, the rack for engagingeand holding the printin plate.

21. In a device for the pur )ose described, the combination of a groove base having a cross-cut extending from the groove thereof, a rack movable longitudinally in said groove, a key adapted to ht into said cross-cut and aving a iiange arranged to one side of the center of said cross-cut for engaging and holding said rack, and means in connection with the rack for engaging and holdingthe printing-plate.

22. Iii a device for the purpose described, the combination oi agrooved base, a cla-mp comprising a body fitted. to slide in the groove of said base, and a hook fixed to said body, means on said clamp for pro elling said hook longitudinally of the groove 1n said base, and means adjustably secured in said groove forthe engagement of said propelling means.

23.. In a device for the pur ose described, the combination oi" a groovedpbase, a clamp comprising a body iitted to slide in the groove of said base, and a hook iixed to said body, means on said clamp coniprising a rotary member having a serrated engaging face for propelling said hook lengthwise of the groove in saidJ hase, and means adjust ably secured. in said groove having a horizon tal series of serrations for the engagement of said iirst serations. f

24. In a device for the purpose described, the combination of a grooved base, a clamp comprising a bod T`fitted to slide in the groove a hook fixed to said body, means movable with said hook for propelling the hook longitudinally of the groove in said base, and means adjustable longitudinally of the said groove in the base for the engagement of said propelling means.

25. ,In a device for the purposadescribed, the combination of a grooved base, a clam coniprising a body portion slidable longitudinally in. the ffroove of said base and a hook fixed to said body, means for propelling said clamp longitudinally of' said groove, compris ing an operating member accessible through i l l. il

essaies v 5 engaging with said rack, and holding said rack against movement in bothh directions, and means in connection with `the rack for engaging and holding the printing-plate.

27. ln 'a device for the purpose described, the combination of a groovcd base, a clamp fitted to reciprocate in the groove of said base, a removable, portable rack in said groove, and lmeans for propelling the clamp by engagement with said rack. i

28. A registering device including a platesupporting block, a register-hook structure movable upon the bloclgvgearing: accessible through the traveling-hook structur,`a11,ele

ment ol' said gearing having a vertical axis bf n rotation and travelin with the hook.

29. registering evice including a platesupporting block, a re ister-hook structure movable upon the bloc ,gearing accessible through the traveling-hook structure, an 'ele'- ment of said gearing having an axis of rotation transverse to the line of travel ol' the hook, which gear element travels with the hook.

30. A registering device including a plated supporting block, a register-hook structure movable upon the block, gearing including two elements carried by the hook structulze, one of said elements being a threaded shalt accessible through the hook structure, said gearing also including a cooperating gear element carried by the block.

31. .ln a device for the pur )ose described, the combination of a grooved hase, a clamp fitted to slide in the groove thereof, a rack in said groove, and means for propelling the clamp by engagement with said rack in both directions.

ln a device for the pur )osefdescribech the combination of a groove base, a clamp iittedto slide in the groove thereof, a rack .in said groove, means for-,propelling the clamp by engagement with the rack, and means for holding the clamp against movement in both directions.

33. In a device for the pur ose described, the combination oli a groovedp base, a clamp movable along said groove, a gear carried by the clamp, and means on the'base having cooperative relation to the said gear, whereby t 1e ope-ration of the gear propels the clamp along the groove.

ROBERT MIEHLE. Witnesses F. A. Hornins, M. B. ALLs'rAnr. 

